Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Obafemi Hamzat, has pledged to eliminate unauthorised levies and multiple charges imposed on businesses if elected governor in 2027.

Hamzat made the pledge on Thursday during an appearance on The Platform, an Independence Day programme organised by Covenant Christian Centre, where he said businesses should be able to operate without facing unapproved or untraceable charges.

“What we will do is to make sure that any levy that is unauthorised, that is not known, that even we can’t track, must go,” Hamzat said.

He proposed the establishment of a State Economic Council to coordinate revenue policies between the state and local governments, saying both levels of government serve the same residents.

“Nobody should stand at junctions to collect anything from anybody,” he said.

“So, businesses must know: what am I going to pay? And the moment I pay it; they must leave me alone. We must not be pulling the rug on businesses.”

Hamzat also promised expanded training and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly in bookkeeping and staff management, which he identified as areas contributing to the failure of some businesses.

“What we have realised is that a lot of SMEs don’t last long, not because they are not making money, but they don’t understand bookkeeping,” he said.

He added that the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund was already working with King’s Trust to strengthen support for businesses in the state.

Hamzat emerged as the Lagos APC governorship candidate in May after securing 657,917 votes at the party’s primary. He defeated Lanre Jim-Kamal, who received one vote, while Samuel Ajose withdrew before the exercise.

In his acceptance speech, Hamzat unveiled “My Lagos Dream”, an agenda focused on job creation, infrastructure, education, healthcare and security, while pledging to sustain Lagos’ position as a leading commercial hub.